Aerosol dispenser



Oct. 22, 1963 w. H. LAMBERT AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed July 5, 1960 le 3 l 67 562MB M2M f 49\ ese ZI- 25 I i 2| 50 55 u 3| I 2 37 5| 32 52 63 65 36 I 44 3 68 75 7 4 l5 7 lo 5N o I7-, -le 32 3o 22 38. 33 35- 23 d 26 3g- 55 fig/0 25 27 l 47 A 65 28 2 52 6.3 69 /39 2 2|- 45 2 l 706%` f 2| 35 36 3s ,l 2O49 46 5| 62 64 63 f 67 40 I i l [v I3- |4 l FIG. 3 1 lNvENToR .L l WILLIAM H. LAMBERT l x BY l I2 JAH/PW E7wv-l ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,107,821 AERQSOL DISPENSER' William H. Lambert, 4109 Chippewa St., St. Louis, Mo. Filed July 5, 1960, Ser. No. 40,732 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and, more particularly, to a timed aerosol dispenser having lever means for depressing the valve cap of the dispenser and means associated wit-h the timed mechanism to eliminate abrupt release of the valve operating mechanism.

There are applications in the aerosol dispensing art where it is highly desirable that the iluid within an aerosol bomb be dispensed at predetermined periodic intervals. An example in which such periodic dispensing is useful is the case when the yaerosol dispenser contains a disinfectant iluid. Similarly, the invention may be used for insecticide fluids, deodorant fluids and many others.

It is an object `of the invention to provide an aerosol dispenser having means for periodically releasing the pressurized iluid from the dispenser.

Another object is to provide an aerosol dispenser having periodic means for dispensing the iluid from the dis penser wherein the dispensing means includes positive actuating lever means arranged to operate without vibrational forces being produced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing mechanism for dispensing aerosol fluid at predetermined periodic intervals wherein the timing mechanism can be adjusted to determine the duration of opening of the dispensing valve.

Still another object of the invention is to provi-de an aerosol dispenser having periodic va-lve actuating means including cam-like means for gradually releasing the valve actuating means.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an aerosol dispenser having valve actuating means, including motor operated clock means wherein the periodicity of the valve actuation can be varied without changing the motor means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for periodically actuating an aerosol dispenser wherein the mechanism is operable upon dispensers having either metered or nonmetered valves.

Other objects and advantages will appear.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevation view of the dispensery in a typical container with the front cover of the container being removed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l; l

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the container.

Referring to the drawings, the dispenser is illustrated as being housed in a typical housing 11, having a bottom 12, side walls 13 and 14 joined by a grooved top 15. There is a back wall 16 and a front cover 17. The front cover 17 has a 'hole 18 through it to admit passage of the dispensed fluid. The housing 11 is shown for illus trative purposes only. Many other forms are possible with the one chosen often dependent upon the decorative environment of the dispenser.

A plate 20 is attached by screws 2.1 to the sides 13 and 14 of the housing. The plate 20 extends between the sides parallel to the back wall 16 and is spaced approximately midway between the back wall and the front cover 17.

A conventional clock mechanism 22kis mounted to the plate 20 by rivets 23 or the like. A rotatable shalft 25, operated by the clock mechanism 22, extends through ICC the plate 20. There is an eccentric lever arm 26 having a -sleeve 27 rigidly attached to it mounted upon the shaft 25. A lock screw 28 threaded through the ysleeve 27 engages the shaft 25 to ix the position of the eccentric lever arm 26.

The lever arm 26 has a pin 30 projecting from it in an outward direction relative to the clock mechanism 22. A sleeve 31 is loosely fitted onto the pin 3) and held in place by a rubber cap 32. There is an arm in the form of a wire 33 soldered to the sleeve 31-about which more will appear later.

A relatively long pin 35 extends from the lower portion of the plate 20 toward the front cover 17. A valve actuating lever 36 having one end 37 bent around the pin 35 is freely rotatable about the pin 35. A washer 38 and cotter key 39 cooperate with the plate 20 to hold the valve actuating lever 36 on the pin 35.

For use with aerosol dispensers having nonmetered valves, the lever 36 is relatively flat at a portion of its length 4i), but then is bent upwardly at 41 to provide a short span 42 that slopes upwardly at an angle. The valve actuating lever is bent downwardly at 43 to provide an upper peak with the free end 44 of the lever depending downwardly at an angle opposite to the slope of the portion 42. The free end 44 is yslightly curved with the uppermost portion 45 bein-g at a steeper slope than the middle and lowermost portion 46. The lever thus described can be varied in shape, particularly at the peak 43 and portion 45 to elongate or shorten the time during which the valve is open. When forming the lever 36 for actuation of a metered valve, the slope of the upper portion 45 is not critical so long as' it depresse-s the valve for at least the period `for which the metering aspect of the valve was designed.

Toward the end of the plate 20, opposite the pin 35, is -mounted a shaft 47. 'Ilhe shaft 47 is iixed to the plate 20 and has a sleeve 48 mounted on it against the plate 20. There lis a ratchet wheel 49 loosely mounted on the shaft 47 adjacent the sleeve 48. A coil spring 50 is mounted onto the shaft against the forward side of the' ratchet wheel 49, and aV washer 51 and nut S2 threaded onto the shaft 47 hold the spring 50 in slight compression.

A ball bearing assembly 54 is eccentrically mounted on the ratchet wheel 49 and the ball bearing assembly 54 includes a freely rotatable router race 55.

The wire 33 that is soldered to the sleeve 32 surrounding the pin 30 has a hook portion 56 at its free end adapted to engage successive teeth on the ratchet wheel 49. Thus, when the clock work mechanism 22 rotates the shaft in a clockwise direction, the hook 56 of the wire 33 will pull a tooth of the ratchet )wheel 49 and rotate the ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction. The hook portion 56 will pull the tooth it is engaging until it slips oir of that tooth. However, because of the shape of the teeth clearly illustrated in FIGURE 1, the hook will ride over several yteeth until it engages a tooth further back in a counterclockwise Adirection as the pin 30 moves around toward the ratchet wheel 49. When the pin 30 has. moved to its furthest extreme toward the ratchet wheel, the hook portion `56 will engage another tooth and as the pin 30 continues to revolve and moves away from the wheel 49, the hook portion 56 will again cause the ratchet wheel to rotate. IEach movement of the ratchet wheel causes the eccentrically mounted ball .bearing assembly 54 to revolve about the shaft 47.

Obviously, the size and number of teeth on the ratchet wheel will have a direct bearing upon the period of actuation of the dispenser valve. Therefore, this period may be variously established according to the choice of a ratchet wheel.

An aerosol container 60 rests upon the bottom 12 of 3 the housing l1. valve cap 61 with a dispenser opening 62 in it. When the valve cap 61 is suiciently depressed, the valve will open to release fluid through the opening 62 fromrwithin the container 60.

There is a thumb screw 63 threaded through the frame portion of the lever 36. 'I'he thumb screw has a flat plate 64 at its lower end and a lock nut 65 above the lever 36. The thumb screw 63 can be rotated to adjust the position of the plate 64 relative t-o the top of the valve cap 6l thereby providing adjusting means for varying the instant of incipient actuation of the Valve upon depression of the lever 36.

There -is a conventional spring means y66 wrapped about the pin 35 with fa hook 67 extending beneath the plate 29 and another hook 63 beneath the lever 36; the spring means 66 biases the lever 36 in an upward direction. There is a stop 69 mounted to the plate 20 and having a rubber bumper 70 on it. The rubber bumper 70 limits the upward .movement of the lever 36.

Returning to the relationship between the outer race 55 of the ball bearing I'assembly Sd and the downwardly extending portion '44 of the lever 36, the slope of the portion 44 is carefully calculated to produce a highly desirable eiect in the' operation of the mechanism.

Because the spring means 66 must be sufficiently strong to return the lever against the bumper 70 and must be suiiiciently strong to operate over sustained periods of time, it must be strong enough to cause the lever 36 to strike the bumper '7u with more than normal impact. In practice, the impact has been suiiicientlyresounding to produce annoying noises each time the lever 36 is released by the outer race 55.

In addition, the impact 'force of the lever 36V against the bumper 70 could have a tendency to jar the clock work mechanism ZZ'into disorder and to olTset the engagement of the wire hook 56 with a tooth of the ratchet wheel 49.

To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, the downward sloping portion 44 of the lever 36 has been given a slight curve that increases in distance Ifrom the center of the shaft 47 as the distance of the curved section 44 increases from the peak 43. In other words, as the ratchet Awheel 49 rotates, the outer race 55 approaches the peak 43 of the lever 36. It engages the peak 43 rst and immediately depresses the lever 36 causing Athe plate 64 to depress the val-ve cap 61 and dispense luid. The uppermost part 45 of the portion 44 being steeper than the middle and lower part 46 of the portion 44, the lever 36 can return upwardly for a short distance rather rapidly. This rapid return of the lever 36 covers a sufficient distance to permit the spring biased valve cap 61 to raise enough to close the valve. However, because the lower part of the free end Lttl'assumes a decreasing ygrade of slope, the race S is held by the portion 418 before it can fully release the lever .36. Therefore, the race 55 must revolve -further before the lever 36 contacts the bumper 7G. As the outer race 55 continues to revolve, it continues to raise the lever 36 gradually until finally releasing it completely just prior to the levers having reached its uppermost position against the bumper 70. The result is thatvthe lever 36 gently strikes the bumper 70 rather than with the lgreat impact that would occur without the above described action of the race S5 against the free end 45.

The shape of the portion 44 can be varied somewhat accordingto theY time duration that it is desired to hold the valve cap 61 depressed with the valve open. In the preferred embodiment, where it is desired to close the valve Afor a short period, the upper part 45 of the lever portion 44 is quite steep so that the lever moves upwardly The container 60 has a conventional quickly while remaining in contact with the outer *raceA The clock Work mechanism 22 is wired to a toggle switch and also to an external line cord in a con- Ventional manner, as shown in FIGURES l and 4. The

toggle switch 75 can turn the dispensing mechanism on and o while the line cord remains connected to an external circuit.

Various changes and rmodications may be made within the process of this invention as Iwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as dened by the claims-appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve actuator for periodically operating a valve so as to abruptly open the valve and gradually release the valve comprising a housing, timing means including a revolvable eccentric supported by the housing, an arm attached to the revolvable eccentric and having ratchet engaging means at its free end, a ratchet Wheel supported by the housing having teeth engageable by the free end of the `arm so that the ratchet wheel is rotated upon revolution of the revolvable eccentric, a projection depending 1laterally from the ratchet wheel, a Valve engaging element pivotally mounted on the vhousing with a portion of it in the path of revolution of the projection, the part in the path of revolution of the projection having a curved surfaceY with an upper portion between two lower por tions, the upper portionof the curved surface being nearer the center of revolution of the projection and the lower portions of the curved surface being at increasingly greater distances from the center of revolution of the projection, whereby upon revolution, the projection -will lfirst engage the upper portion of the curved surface and immediately depress the lever, but will thereafter slide across the lower portions Vof the'c-ur-ved sur-face to gradually release the lever, and a valve supported in the path of movement of the valve engaging element.

2. The combination of claim l, including means on the lever for adjusting the distance between the valve engaging element and the top of the valve.

3. In combination with an aerosol container of the type having a depressible cap -for releasing pressurized tiuid, lever means for pressing against the top of the cap to cause the iluirl to be released, the lever means having a peak portion, and timing means including projection' means mounted for revolution about a fixed -point relative to the position of the I.aerosol container and positioned relative to the peaked portion at such'a distance that the peaked portion of the lever means is the path of rotation of the projection means so ythat `the projection means will momentarily contact and depress the peaked portion at predeterminedrtiine intervals to produce an intermittent actuation of the lever means, the `lever means having a curved portion depending from the peaked portion, the curved portion increasing gradually in distance froml the center of rotation of the projection means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,889 Doherty Oct. 1, 1889 1,309,611 Bungay Q July l5, 1919 n 1,370,260 Anderson Mar. 1, v1921 1,760,902 Grattan June 3, 1930 1,767,611 Payne June 24, 1930 2,545,928 Martin Mar. 20, 1951- 2,613,108 Kraus Oct. 7, 1952 2,637,469 Clay May k5, 1953 2,772,067 Wilson Nov. 27, 1956 2,928,573 Edelstein Mar. 15, 1960 2,991,912 Thomas @c a1. July 11. 1961 

1. A VALVE ACTUATOR FOR PERIODICALLY OPERATING A VALVE SO AS TO ABRUPTLY OPEN THE VALVE AND GRADUALLY RELEASE THE VALVE COMPRISING A HOUSING, TIMING MEANS INCLUDING A REVOLVABLE ECCENTRIC SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING, AN ARM ATTACHED TO THE REVOLVABLE ECCENTRIC AND HAVING RATCHET ENGAGING MEANS AT ITS FREE END, A RATCHET WHEEL SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING HAVING TEETH ENGAGEABLE BY THE FREE END OF THE ARM SO THAT THE RATCHET WHEEL IS ROTATED UPON REVOLUTION OF THE REVOLVABLE ECCENTRIC, A PROJECTION, DEPENDING LATERALLY FROM THE RATCHET WHEEL, A VALVE ENGAGING ELEMENT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING WITH A PORTION OF IT IN THE PATH OF REVOLUTION OF THE PROJECTION, THE PART IN THE PATH OF REVOLUTION OF THE PROJECTION HAVING A CURVED SURFACE WITH AN UPPER PORTION BETWEEN TWO LOWER PORTIONS, THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CURVED SURFACE BEING NEARER THE CENTER OF REVOLUTION OF THE PROJECTION AND THE LOWER PORTIONS OF THE CURVED SURFACE BEING AT INCREASINGLY GREATER DISTANCES FROM THE CENTER OF REVOLUTION OF THE PROJECTION, WHEREBY UPON REVOLUTION, THE PROJECTION WILL FIRST ENGAGE THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CURVED SURFACE AND IMMEDIATELY DEPRESS THE LEVER, BUT WILL THEREAFTER SLIDE ACROSS THE LOWER PORTIONS OF THE CURVED SURFACE TO GRADUALLY RELEASE THE LEVER, AND A VALVE SUPPORTED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE ENGAGING ELEMENT. 